The ABC allows comments on some of our articles, as a space for you to contribute your thoughts about news events and participate in civil conversations about topical issues.

All comments are moderated and we make no guarantees that your contribution will be published.

Reply

Author

Email

Date/Time

10 Dec 2016 5:24:34am

Text

PreviousMessage

Professor Gray, all I think Alain de Botton is suggesting is that when rejecting the core belief systems of the major religions we – ‘Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!’. The wisdom of religions is not their various theological arguments, scripture and core belief systems, which mark them as separate from each other, but that they cater for many universal basic human needs. I think you hit the nail on the head when you suggested -“Religions are human creations. When they are consciously designed to be useful, they are normally short-lived. The ones that survive are those that have evolved to serve enduring human needs - especially the need for self-transcendence.”It is of the nature of the evolutionary adaptation we call the ‘Self’ or ‘Ego’ to want to believe it will transcend death. Having that belief lends survival value in adversity, both at individual and group level. Buddha the Philosopher realised the ‘impermanence of Self’ 2500 years ago, but, Ego being Ego, many of his followers could not accept this as his core message. Perhaps it is only “pure” Zen which has carried this quantum leap of insight into our true nature through to the present scientific age. A life based on Buddha’s insight has been shown in the interim not to lead to a rejection of the human needs for companionship, art, music, compassion, altruism, or a fascination with life. Isn’t this just what Alain de Botton is suggesting for the present day?